Initiated 2018, bermuda 1000 Race is back this year with a nearly three-fold increase in its effectifs?! If there were 6 participants last year, this 2000 mile course between Douarnenez and Brest via the famous Fastnet lighthouse and the Azores archipelago brings together an eclectic fleet of 17 skippers in 2019.
Vendée Globe in vue?!
This 2000 mile race reserved for the IMOCA will allow the 17 skippers involved to collect miles for the selection of the 2020-2021 Vendée Globe. The sailors selected will be the ones who have covered the most miles in the races on the Globe Series calendar (IMOCA World Championship).
An eclectic fleet
The fleet of the Bermude 1000 Race is representative of the IMOCA class, which attracts more and more enthusiasts year after year. Thus, 4 women and 13 men aged 29 to 62 years old and of 6 different nationalities will be able to measure themselves for one week on their IMOCA from 1998 (Alexia Barrier) to 2015 (Fabrice Amédéo and Giancarlo Pedote), 7 of whom are foilers.
The objectives will also be different for the whole fleet, composed of 7 bizuths, 3 finishers from the Vendée Globe and regular support staff.
The favourites
The Guyader Grand Prix - currently taking place in Douarnenez Bay) - brought together 9 of the 17 skippers competing in the Bermuda 1000 Race. It was an opportunity to get a first impression and draw some conclusions. And in view of the results, there are four of them as favourites.
Starting with the new "little" Sébastien Simon (Arkea-Paprec), who took first place on the podium and won the Guyader Grand Prix. He has already completed two transatlantic races (one double and one false solo) and will try to confirm his full potential.
Samantha Davies (Initiatives-C?ur) also performed on this Guyader Grand Prix, with a 3rd place finish. She was able to test her huge crewed foils and now has only to transform the experience into a solo experience. It should also be remembered that the victory in 2018 escaped him by 12 minutes, behind Paul Meilhat.
Yannick Bestaven (Master Rooster) also made the powder speak and finished in 2 In 2015, loyal readers of Bateaux remember an article on a rather crazy project: building a 40-foot carbon boat alone. Four years later, we went back to see Bernard in his hangar, lost in pointe Bretonne. position. For his first solo sailor aboard his foiler, he is determined to do the right thing.
Finally, the German Boris Herrmann (Malizia Yacht Club de Monaco) is ranked 4th in the Globe Series ranking and hopes to take the lead in the absence of these three competitors (Paul Meilhat, Yann Eliès and Alex Thomson). Confident and methodical, he has taken his boat in hand.
The program of stopovers:
- Monday May 6: Announcement of the course
- Tuesday, May 7, 5:30 p.m. (Douarnenez) : Briefing Course
- Wednesday, May 9, 5 p.m. (Douarnenez): Departure from Bermuda 1000 Race
- Wednesday 15 May (Brest): Estimated arrival of the first competitors
- Saturday, May 18, 6 p.m. (Brest): Award Ceremony
The list of registered members
- Fabrice Amedeo (Newrest-Art & Windows)
- Alexia Barrier (4myplanet)
- Yannick Bestaven (Master Rooster) also made the powder speak and finished in 2
- Arnaud Boissières (La Mie Câline-Artipôle)
- Manuel Cousin (Setin Group)
- Sam Davies (Initiatives C?ur)
- Clément Giraud (Envol)
- Pip Hare (Superbigou)
- Boris Herrmann (Malizia Yacht Club de Monaco)
- Ari Huusela (Ariel 2)
- Stéphane Le Diraison (Time For Oceans)
- Miranda Merron (Campaign of France)
- Giancarlo Pedote (Prysmian Group)
- Damien Seguin (Groupe Apicil)
- Sébastien Simon (Arkea-Paprec)
- Maxime Sorel (V and B-Sailing Together)
- Denis Van Weynbergh (Eyesea.be)
